NasDem on Its Cadres Moving to PSI: Still Just a Handful

Deputy Chairman of the NasDem Party, Saan Mustopa, has brushed aside claims that many of its cadres are switching allegiance to the Indonesian Solidarity Party (PSI). According to Saan, the number of cadres moving to the elephant-emblem party cannot be categorised as large.

“If many were switching, it would be uncountable by now. This can still be counted on fingers,” said the Deputy Chairman of the People’s Representative Council at the DPR Building in Jakarta on Monday, 13 April 2026.

Saan considers membership transfers from one party to another as a normal occurrence, not unique to NasDem. He suspects that former NasDem cadres now in PSI are seeking a new atmosphere and challenges to test their abilities.

“Perhaps they have grown bored internally in NasDem, seeking a new atmosphere and challenges, and we cannot hold them back. That is each person’s political right,” Saan stated.

He claims that NasDem remains solid internally under Surya Paloh’s leadership. NasDem also asserts that it continues to strengthen consolidation from the regional to central levels through programmes like the defence academy and visits to 39 electoral districts during last Ramadan.

“So internally, we have no issues at all. Once again, the party remains solid, consolidation continues, and the movement of some cadres is just normal dynamics,” he said.

The party led by Kaesang Pangarep has recruited three senior NasDem cadres to join PSI’s executive board. They are Ahmad Ali, Bestari Barus, and the most recent, Rusdi Masse. Before becoming PSI’s Daily Chairman, Ahmad Ali was formerly NasDem’s Deputy General Chairman.

Bestari Barus, who once served as Chairman of the NasDem Faction in the DKI Jakarta Provincial Legislative Council for the 2014-2019 period, has now been appointed as Head of Politics for PSI. Meanwhile, Rusdi Masse was Chairman of NasDem’s South Sulawesi Provincial Board as well as a member of Commission III in the DPR before joining PSI. Kaesang introduced Rusdi Masse at the opening of PSI’s national working meeting in Makassar, South Sulawesi, on Thursday, 29 January 2026.